Singapore government agency, the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), has unveiled a series of new initiatives to “enhance the vibrancy of Singapore’s media ecosystem”.

These include additional funds for Singapore talent to secure regional and international co-productions, a new skills framework for media, and new partnerships with global media players.

Among the projects announced this afternoon by minister for communications and information, S Iswaran, is a two-year collaboration with Disney to set up a content studio for digital-first multiplatform content for Southeast Asia, as well as a partnership with Facebook on a Facebook Creator Lab.

The Facebook Lab is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The new programmes to support local media players with global ambitions include the Public Service Media (PSM) Digital Partnership Fund to develop public service content for digital platforms, and a new grant for film co-productions that take Asian stories.

The grant is the first in Southeast Asia to fund feature-length regional co-productions between Singaporean creative producers and Southeast Asian filmmakers.

Up to S$250,000/US$182,815 is available per project.

Details will be made available by the first half of 2019, with the call-for-proposals to open in the third quarter of 2019.